Sttctioh-cleaner



I. B. WRBY. SlLC'HON CLEANER. mum/mom mm m. 18. ms.

Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 l. B. KIRBY. SUCTION CLEANER. APPLICATION men FEB.18.1915.

Patented May 6, 1919.

2 sHE'ETs-sHEET 2 ED STATES PATENT ornron SUCTION-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed February 18, 1915. Serial No. 9,052.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful'Improvement in Suction-Gleam ers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to suction cleaners, and has particular reference to that type of suction cleaner comprising a portable casing adapted to be moved about over the.

floor or other surface, and having a work engaging inlet mouth adapted to collect the dust and refuse, said inlet mouth being in communication with a suction fan which is directly connected to a motor carried by the ous expedients have been suggested, such as the connection directly to the inlet mouth, the connection to the casing at a distance from the inlet mouth, and the connection to the fan chamber immediately, but such an attempt has ordinarily been accompanied by certain difliculties, either that additional parts were necessary for effecting the connection desired or for cutting off the flow throu h the inlet mouth, or that pockets were ormed inside of the month which collected dirt and refuse from the passing stream or which trapped the air and set up eddy currents therein so that the efficiency of the cleaner was reduced.

The objects of the present invention are the provision of a cleaner having new and simplified expedients for connecting the extension hose thereto and for controlling the passage through the cleaner depending upon whether or not the extension hose is being employed; the provision of a construction of cleaner wherein a minimum number of parts are employed, and those are of such shape as to afford the straightest and least interrupted air passage; the provision of a cleaner wherein the direction of the air stream entering the fan shall be that which is most serviceable from the standpoint of efliciency; the provision of a new and simplified construction of connection which shall permit attachment of the extension hose either to the low pressure or the high pressure side of the fan; the provision of a new and improved type of valve for connecting elther the permanent or the extension suction mouth to the fan chamber while disconnecting the other therefrom; while further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view ,through a portion of a cleaner showing my improvements, the cleaner being arranged for floor use; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same cleanerillustrating the same arranged for the use of the extension hose; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the bottom of said cleaner illustrating the mounting of the control valve; Fig. 4: is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaner with the hose attached for use as a blower, showing the control valve in the proper position for such use; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve and valve handle removed from the casing; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hose connection.

For purposes of disclosure 1 have H1118.

trated my improvement in connection with a cleaner of the type having an inclined fan chamber provided at its upper and rearward side with a rearwardlv inclined motor dome and at its lower and forward side with'a laterally extending-downwardly facing suction nozzle forming the front of the machine, thelowermost portion of the fan chamber having an .upwardly and rearwardly turned discharge neck adapted to receive the dust bag, although it is obvious that my improvements are not limited to use with machines of this design. In these drawings 1 represents the fan chamber, 2 the motor dome, 3 the suction nozzle, 4 the discharge neck, and 5 the dust bag, the fan chamber being provided with a fan 6, and the machine being supported on suitable wheels 7 The suction nozzle 3 comprises a forward wall 8 connected at the upper end with the wall of the fan chamber and; .t erminating atitsl'ower part in a:

5 versely extending 5 of the inclined end walls 876.642 (continuation of 0 in the aperture 15,

horizontal transverse jaw- 9, and a bottom wall 10 the greater part of which is substantially horizontal or only slightly inclined and terminates at its forward end in a transjaw 11 generally parallel to the jaw 9 and spaced therefrom to define an inlet mouth 12. The ends of this nozzle are defined by the walls 13 which converge rearwardly from the suction mouth in a Well .0 known manner, while on its upper side the nozzle is defined by the flat lower wall 14 of the fan chamber in which is formed the opening 15 substantiallyconcentric with the fan and located adjacent the conjunction '13. Up to this point the construction illustrated is that substantially as described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,184,458 granted on application filed December 7, 1914, Serial No. application No. 590,276 filed November 2, 1910) and hence not a part of the invention herein described and claimed.

According to my present invention I form at the rear of the wall and concentric with the opening a cup-shaped or gen.- erally hemi-spherical well formed at the side opposite to the suction, nozzle with a circular aperture 21 adapted. for the recep- 0 tion of the hose connection, and inside of this well I locate a suitable rotatable valve, preferably of the shape and construction illustrated in Fig. 5. This valve consists of a substantially quarter-spherical shell 22, having at its pole a radial stud 23 pivoted in a suitable boss 24 coaxial with the opening 15.

Opposite to the stud 23 the shell merges with a flat equitorial ring 25 which seats while the passage through the ring shown at 26 forms a free opening into the fan chamber. Outside of the nozzle wall the stud 23 is providedwith an operating handle 27 suitably affixed thereto and adapted to rotate the valve to the ,posi-' tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. The outer wall formed with abutments 28 whereby themovement of the handle is restrained to 180, and 1 also preferably with suitable slots ordepressions 29 adapted toreceive a protuberance 30 formed on the handle so as to prevent accidental displacement of the"valve, the handle being made of slightly resilient metal in order to form a secure locking engagement. I11 the present embodiment I have illustrated the shell as formed with engaging surfaces only around its forward edges as illustrated at 32, the remainder thereof being spaced awayslightly from the wall of the recess as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

For securing the extension hose I have illustrated a coupling member comprising a shank 36 and a. nipple 37, the latter being provided at its forward end with threads 38 of the casing is preferablyv the lip 42 of a cylindrical vent the attachment of the connection without first turning the valve to the proper position. Also the angle of approach to the fan from the fixed nozzle and from the-extension connection are substantially equal though upon opposite sides of the an axis as will be clearly evident from Fig. 2. An, other advantage of the present construction.

is that when the device is employed as an ordinary suction cleaner, the shape of the valve 22 is such as to provide a smooth and substantially unimpeded passageway from the suction mouth to the fan without the production of air pockets, dirt collecting corners, eddies, and cross currents. lVith a device of the construction shown herein articles of considerable weight deposited upon the wall 10 will be worked rearwardly by the suction and vibration until the valve member is reached which, owing to its smooth surface and the concentration of the air stream at this point, will aid rather than obstruct the delivery of those articles to the fan chamber. Also whileI do not confine the use of my improved valve construction to a cleaner having an inclined chamber, there is no doubt but that peculiarly efficient results are obtained by such combined use from the fact that a perfectly straight passage is thereby provided from the inlet mouth into the dust bag as an examination of Fig. 1 will clearly show, which feature is not exhibited by any other cleaner to the best of my knowledge and which results in a mark edly higher eifici'ency than can otherwise be secured. 1 a

Reference has heretofore been made to the attachment of a hose to the discharge neck 4 to provide a blower, and for this purpose'I provide the nipple 37 with a transversely extending flange 40 adapted to close the end of this neck around the nipple and carrying at its edge the securing devices for attaching the same in place. In the present embodiment the margin of this flange is turned over to form alip 41 about; which'is folded ring 43 formed at its opposite edge with an outstanding rim 44, to which aresuita-bly secured the attaching ears 45-45. In the present embodiment these cars are made of spring metal and are Secured to the rim by means of flexible tongues 46 struck out from this rim and secured in suitableapertures formed in the ears 45, while the exterior of the outlet neck is formed with suitable grooves, for the reception of the same. Reference to Fig. 1

as shown in Fig. 3, and the con-.

will show that the construction of this securing device is exactly the same as that employed with the bag, the ring -13 being identical in the two cases, a flange *0 being secured thereto in one instance, and a fiared sleeve -17 being secured therein in the other case, the latter forming a means of attachment for the bag fabric as illustrated and claimed in my prior copending application filed January 20th. 1915, Serial No. 5191.

WVhen the machine is employed for cleaning floors, rugs, etc., it is employed in the position shown in Fig. 1 in the well known manner. \Vhen it is employed with the extension tools for cleaning draperies, furniture, etc., it is preferably inverted as shown in Fig. 2, the valve member being reversed and the connection 27 attached as illustrated. When it is employed as a blowing tool the bag5 is removed and the hose connection attached in place thereof as shown in Fig. 4. the machine being employed either side up as desired, although it is generally more convenient to leave the same upright as illustrated, employing the valve member in reverse position so that the air will be drawn in through the opening 21 rather than through the inlet mouth and thus minimizing the opportunity of drawing dust into the machine. It is obvious that many changes in construction, design, arrangement and mode of operation could be employed without departing from the scope of my inventive idea, although the constructions and arrangements here disclosed have been arrived at after long study and experiments and are the best which I have so far devised. However I donot limit myself to the particular constructions and details herein shown except as the same are specifically recited in the claims hereto annexed or rendered necessary by the prior state of the art.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is 1. In a. suction cleaner, a casing having therein a fan chamber and a suction cham ber ending in a nozzle, there being an axial opening the wall of the fan chamber and the wall of the suction chamber being formed with a cupped recess formed as a surface of revolution coaxial therewith, the wall of said recess being formed with a tube receiving aperture and a rotatable hollow valve in said recess and conforming to the shape thereof, the interior of said valve being always in free communication with the fan chamber and one side of said valve being cut away to permit communication between said fan chamber and said nozzle or said aperture selectively. v .2. In a suction cleaner, a circular fan chamber, a suction nozzle at one end thereof and separated therefrom by a centrally apertured partition, said nozzle having a wall opposite said partition and said wall having a cupped recess opposite the aperture in the partition, the wall of said recess being formed with an aperture, a rotatable cupped valve seated in such recess and havmg a portion extending to said partition at a point adjacent to the aperture, said valve having an aperture adapted to register with said first aperture, and means for operating said valve, said first aperture being formed to receive an extension connection when said second aperture is in register therewith.

3. A suction cleaner comprising a casing havlng therein a pump-chamber and a suction chamber adjacent thereto and separated therefrom by an apertured partition, said suction chamber terminating in a collecting nozzle having an inlet mouth located at one side of and out of alinment with the aperture in said partition, and a hollow valve pivoted in said suction chamber and rotatable about the axis of said opening, the wall of said suction chamber being formed with a connection receiving aperture out of alinement with said opening and upon the opposite side thereof from said inlet mouth.

1. A suction cleaner comprising a casing having therein a pump-chamber and a suction chamber adjacent thereto and separated therefrom by an apertured partition, said suction chamber terminating 1n a collecting nozzle having at one side of such aperture a downwardly opening inlet mouth and at the other side of such aperture an outwardly facing connection receiving opening, and a valve pivoted in said suction chamber between said month and opening and adapted to close communication between either of the same and said aperture.

5. A vacuum cleaner casing having therein a fan chamber and a suction chamber, said chambers having a common partition Wall therebetween formed with an opening concentric with said fan, said suction chamber terminating in a collecting nozzle having an inlet mouth at one side of the fan axis and tube receiving provisions at the other side of the fan axis, and a movable valve permanently located inside said suction chamber and adapted to connect said opening with said tube receiving provisions or said inlet mouth selectively.

6. A vacuum cleaner casing having therein a fan chamber and a suction chamber, said chambers having a common partition wall therebetween formed with an opening concentric with said fan, said suction chamber having on one side of said'opening an inlet mouth and on the other side of said opening a tube connection, both said inlet mouth and said tube connection being inclined to the axis of said fan, and a rotatable valve located inside said suction chamber and controlling communication between said aperture, connection, and inlet mouth,

the axis of said valve lying bet cen the axes. I

a fanchamber formedwith an inlet openin of said mouth and tube connection.

7. A suction cleaner comprising a casing havin therein a pump chamber and a suction c amber adjacent thereto and separated therefrom by an apertured partition, said suction chamber terminating in a suction nozzle having at one side of such aperture a downwardly opening inlet mouth and at the other side of such aperture a connection receiving opening, a movable valve located in said suction chamber and adapted to connect either said inlet mouth or said opening to said pump chamber while cuttin oil the other therefrom, and an extension-liose-connection adapted for attachment to said open ing, said connection having a part adapted to project into said opening whereby attachment of the same is prevented unless said valve is in the appropriate position for use therewith.

8. A vacuum cleaner casing havin therein a fan chamber and a. suction chamber, said chambers having a common partition wall therebetween formed with an opening concentric with said fan, said suction chamber having on one side of said opening an inlet mouth and on the other side of said opening a tube connection, a movable valve located inside said suction connect said opening with said tube receiving provisions or said inlet mouth selectively,

an extension connection adapted for attach-1 ment to said tube receiving provisions, and means for preventing such attachment until after communication between said opening and said inlet mouth has been cut ofi".

9. A suction cleaner comprising a pump casing, having an inlet aperture, a suction nozzle adjacent to said casing and surrounding said aperture, and a rotatable substantially hemi-spherical valve in said suction chamber, thepivot axis of said valve coinciding substantially with the center of said aperture and the equatorial portion of said valve surrounding said aperture, one side of said valve being cut away to form a communicating passageway.

10. In a suction cleaner a casing having a fan chamber formed with a central inlet aperture on one of its walls, and a well outslde of and facing said aperture, a rotatable valve in said well and having its exterior formed as a surface of revolution, said valve having an obstructing portion on one side and an open passageway on the other, a suction nozzle communicating with one side of said well and having a work-engaging inlet mouth, and means upon the opposite side of said well for the attachment of an'extension connection.

will) ng i i i P, a

bers, one1o-sa1d1chambers having a i-w'ork en-- chamber and adapted to said "first ch amber, controlling the 11. In a suction cleaner, a'casi-ng having chamber substantially concentric with said opening, a suction nozzle carri'edfby'said casing and communicating with said opening, said nozzle havin a work-engaging inlet mouth arranged out of alinement with said opening, an extension connection,.and means carried by said connection with its 'mouth close to said openin andjts axis-inclined .to the fan axis.

13. n-asuctioncleaner,athin-walledlcasair of T communicating chain'- gag'i-ng inlt'niouthoutofalinement with the opening between, said chambers, and 'the other a point removed from g 1n said'second chamber, a movable valve in P fi between saidgopenmg and;sa1d-'m outh and aperture, and an extension connection adaptedto be securedin said aperture and hav' a portionadapted to'extend into thfe path ofmovement of said valve. i 14, In a suction cleaner, a casing-having a pair of communicating chambers,-one of said chambershaving a work-en mouth out of alinement with the o tween said chambers, and the other a'discharge neck, said first chamber also having aperture; in its wall at a int removedffrom said inlet mouth :5 f out of alinement with said opening, a n

fan m'said v k I nection adapted to be secured in isaidiapere said casing for securing iving a discharge neck, fi l t' chamberlhavmg an aperturein it'siwall atasaid inletmouth, a-ifan co (1 chamber, and a hose con hire, at angle to the fan i s of a length to extend through the toward the planeof said opening In testimony whereof, I

signature mthe resence oftwo wit witness s I AMES'B IR 

